ITB Berlin, IPK International Reveal Travel Poll Results
ITB Berlin is publishing the latest findings of a special Covid-19 survey by IPK International on travel plans for 2022. The findings of a recent survey conducted by IPK International show a renewed increase in people’s travel intentions.
Currently, 80 percent of respondents worldwide are planning international trips over the next 12 months. Sun and beach holidays are in demand, but also city breaks and holidays close to nature.
Europeans’ preferred destinations are their common favourites: Spain, Italy and Germany. Although more and more people want to travel, the latest findings continue to reflect worries regarding the pandemic. There is also criticism of travel conditions in recent months.
Interest in traveling abroad has increased significantly since the beginning of the year and with the availability of a vaccine. 80 percent of respondents worldwide are now planning to travel again, although their travel intention varies from continent to continent. Europeans' intentions to travel abroad are now almost 90 percent of the pre-Covid level, while Americans' are around 70 percent and Asians' over 60 percent – but with a strong upward trend in recent months.
Popular destinations in 2022
Europeans clearly prefer destinations on their own continent for the upcoming travel season, with Spain ranks first, followed by Italy and Germany, as well as France and Greece.
The Americans' favorite destinations are the neighbouring countries USA, Canada and Mexico, as well as destinations in Europe - above all Italy and Germany.
In Asia, people are mostly planning to visit destinations on their own continent (Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, China) and in Europe Germany and France would be the preferred destinations.
Growing Interest in Holiday Trips
As much as 81 percent of those interested in traveling abroad are planning holiday trips over the next 12 months. Since the beginning of the year, intentions for holidays have risen steadily. In contrast, travel plans for visiting friends and relatives abroad has declined (current potential 30 percent) – for business trips abroad, however, they are stable worldwide at 21 percent since the beginning of the year.
As before the pandemic, the focus is on sun & beach holidays (63 percent), followed by city breaks and round trips. For nature-oriented types of holiday, interest remains above the pre-Covid level. In recent months, demand for cruises has also risen worldwide.
Despite people being keen to travel abroad, doing so remains difficult. Almost 90 percent of those who have recently made international trips say that travel planning was often difficult and complicated, and 80 percent report Covid-related impairments at their destination. The main issue is not that travelers are not accepting relevant measures, but unclear or changing information combined with poor communication on the part of the destinations.
